"Dungeons & Dragons" as a film is in a bit of a can’t-win situation
– it’s based on the granddaddy of all first-person do-it-yourself
games, in which the whole idea is to participate rather than sit back
and watch, as is required by movies. "Dungeons & Dragons" never
attempts to address this conundrum, but it honorably incorporates
various famous aspects of the game, which (for those who are just now
catching up with Western civilization pop culture of the last 30 years)
sends characters, human and otherwise, on elaborate and dangerous
quests through fantasy realms.

Mages and thieves taking center stage here (warriors are present but
secondary and clerics don’t register). The main characters are human,
but elves, dwarves and (per the title) dragons figure significantly in
the action. The plot follows the efforts of a ragtag band led by young
burglar Ridley (Justin Whalin) to obtain a wand that controls an entire
breed of dragons, before evil magician Profion (Jeremy Irons) can get
his hands on the device and enslave the whole kingdom.

Idiosyncratic individualists like Neil Jordan and Peter Jackson have
made some incredibly, dreamlike fantasies outside the studio system
(although both now happily toil within it – Jackson is currently
laboring on uber-project "Lord of the Rings" for New Line, the company
releasing "Dungeons"). However, when epic-scope fairytales that call
for the creation of whole new worlds are made by first-timers on a
limited budget, the results can often be scary. Credit first-time
director Courtney Solomon with having fully thought out the look of
sets and effects. Technically, his film is commendably accomplished.
Many of his establishing shots look uncannily like handsome book
illustrations, full of color and imaginative life. The structures (many
of them actual buildings in Prague) are impressive, and the mazes that
the characters must navigate are truly clever. When Ridley has to make
his way through a perilous labyrinth in Chapter 8, the sequence evokes
the opening of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" as shrewd, lively homage
rather than pallid rip-off.

Furthermore, the dragons look fantastic. The script by Topper Lilien
& Carroll Cartwright builds to an inevitable aerial dogfight
between two different tribes of dragons in Chapters 17 and 18, and the
CGI is just about all it could be. The story is decently laid out,
introducing a lot of information in easy-to-follow installments while
ensuring that action of one form or another is either occurring or just
around the next bend.

Characterizations are something else again. If the dialogue and
performances measured up to the effects and production design,
"Dungeons & Dragons" would qualify as compelling. However, the
humor fluctuates between being reasonably amusing and falling utterly
flat, while genuine emotion is out of reach. Part of this is due to a
curious decision to describe rather than show several key plot points.
At least one of these can be partially explained by watching the
director’s commentary on the alternate ending (found in the deleted
scenes menu), but the finale still plays as bizarre even when it’s
clear that it’s the result of a post-production choice.

Whalin is acceptable as the earnest young hero and Richard O’Brien
(writer and Riff-Raff of "Rocky Horror Picture Show") contributes a sly
turn as the head of the thieves’ guild. Bruce Payne is enjoyably evil
as the secondary baddie in charge of capturing the rebels.
Unfortunately, some of the other performers border on being wooden. On
the other side of the equation, there’s Iron’s, who doesn’t let little
things like a screenful of howling CGI dragons upstage him. It’s one
thing to be broad and campy, but Irons is too much for even the large
space provided by the "Dungeons & Dragons" canvas.

The DVD sound is slightly disappointing compared to the theatrical
release version, although this may be the fault of either this
reviewer’s equipment or the room configuration. In the theatre, the
Chapter 1 stomping and bellowing of a massive dragon shook theatre
seats with mighty footfalls, drawing us right into the world of the
story. Either the bass on the DVD is not calibrated correctly or else
the home sound system isn’t strong enough to handle it, because the
impact bottoms out with far too much vibration. Other sound effects are
much better, with dimensional puffs of flame extending into the room in
Chapter 8, wonderful directional arrow impacts and the clatter of
falling objects in the rears in Chapter 9 and splendid moving-air
noises as dragons flap and swoosh through the air in Chapters 17 and
18. The center channel mostly presents the dialogue with clarity,
although there are one or two places (notably in Chapter 9) where
there’s a detectable dip in the level.

The DVD comes with two different filmmaker audio commentary tracks and
a pair of featurettes. One is a making-of, enlivened by enthusiastic
discussion of effects and stunts – one appreciates Whalin’s performance
more after hearing about his real adventures while filming the maze
sequence. However, the one that will endear itself to viewers
sympathetic to D&D is the "Let the Games Begin" history of the
role-playing leisure pursuit. D&D co-creator Gary Gygax, filmmaker
Solomon, star Whalin and New Line executive Mark Ordesky all
rapturously chronicle their own personal experiences with and love of
D&D, fearless about sounding totally fannish. It’s a loopy and
adorable footnote to the main feature.

"Dungeons & Dragons" isn’t resonant enough to work its way deeply
into many hearts, but as an effects extravaganza with a plot that’s
true to its gaming roots, it’s definitely a good time.